Summer 1991

ARTICLE TOOLS

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Christian ministry without the supernatural is like a day without sunshine . . . or air . . . or ground to stand on. Only when Christ's presence is experienced by pastor and people does ministry have any meaning.

Rut what exactly do we mean by "experiencing" the supernatural? What can pastors do to help people live in light of spiritual realities? And how about the dark side? How can we take the Enemy seriously, without fearful preoccupation?

To address such questions, LEADERSHIP gathered three pastors and a theologian:

-J. I. Packer, the theologian, is professor at Regent College in Vancouver, British Colombia, and senior editor of CHRISTIANITY TODAY. He's perhaps most well known for his book, Knowing God (InterVarsity).

-Jack Hayford is pastor of Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California. He has written several books, including Moments with Majesty (Multnomah) and Prayer: Invading the Impossible (Ballantine), and hymns, such as the widely sung "Majesty."

-John Huffman is pastor of Newport Beach Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, California. Previously he served at First Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is author of Joshua, a volume in Word's Critical Commentary series.

-Charles Swindoll is pastor of First Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton, California. He has authored many books, including Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life (Multnomah).

These men, we discovered, know a great deal about the ordinary and extraordinary dimensions of ministry.

Leadership: What do you mean when you use the term supernatural?

Chuck Swindoll: Supernatural is a word I use to describe something that happens beyond human ability. Sometimes when I preach, for example, people experience the Lord's presence. I can't produce that with mere ...

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